Aerial flare



April G. J. J. CLARK ET AL AERIAL FLARE Filed Aug. 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Shem 1 Fig. 1.

lnvenrors George J J. ClcrK Ernesr B Jones Pfiys April 22, 1930. G. J. .1. CLARK ET AL 1,755,388

AER IAL FLARE Filed Aug. 1'7, [[927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 George J.J. Clark Ernesf B. Jones lhven'rors.

A1 tys -from'the shell.

" vJ: A furthenobject of the invention is-to pro- ,vide safetyi' mecha'nism which will prevent Patented pr. 22. 19393 PATENT omce GEORGE 13'. a. craitxg-orlwnrmnan, m ERNEST n. JONES, or sou'rn wnmourn, mssacnusnrrs, 'Assronoas T NATIONAL rmnwonxs, me, or wnsr HANOVER,

7 This invention'relates to improvements in aerial flares, and the primary object thereof is to provide an aerial landing flare for aircraft. In its broader'sense, however, the invention comprisesa shell which is attached to a parachute and which contains pyrotechnical material adapted to be ignited after the shell and the parachute have been dropped from a suitable height. I One of. theobjects'of theinvention is to providea device ofthe character described in p which the shell comprises a cap having igniting mechanism and'means' for actuating the same operable by'the more rapid movement ofthe shell than that of the parachute when I dropping and operable also to release thexcap A further object of the invention is to pro- *videa cap for-a shell of the character described with means for firing a cartridge to ment w'ithfthe pyrotechnical material and to be ignitedfbythe' firing of the cartridge.

explosion of the'carti'idge by the hammer unless'the' hammer is raised and released by its actuating mechanism.) These and otherf'objects and features of the .""invention will more fully appear in the following description and accompanying draw ings, and will b'e particularly pointed out in the claims.

.In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a conventional illustration of an airplane with" a tube mounted upon it containing a flare embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through a flare-supporting tube and a case enclosing a parachute with a shell containing pyrotechnical material and embodying the present invention attached to the parachute, and also illustrates the means for releasing the shell and parachute from its case;

Fig. 3 is an illustration of the-drop ing parachute and shell soon after its release rom the case, with the collapsed;

v ignite the pyrotechnical material. Prefer- I "".ably thecap contain'siarece ss or areceptacle .for a quickmatch ladapted to lie in engagebody of an aeroplane ready to be released parachute substantiallym1ssacnusn rrs,'a-"comoimrxoivor massaonusn'r'rs I AERIAL, FLARE ap ncatmnmed August 17, 1927. Serial No. 213,676.

Fig. 4 is a view of the parachute and shell showing the parachute in open position, and the cap removed from the shell after having ignited the pyrotechnical material therein;

Fig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the-shell and cap therefor, illustrating the mechanism for causing] ignition of the pyrotechnical material in normal position;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional View illustrating, in fulllines, the hammer .of the ignition mechanism in raised position and ready to be released upon further movement of the trigger and, in dotted lines, the'position of the hammer when released and firing the cartridge; and

1 Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view throu h the cover of the cap for the shell, showing t e manner in which the cap is secured to the shell. v

As the aerial flare embodying the present invention is particularly adapted for use as a landing flare for aircraft, it'is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings as assembled upon the therefrom. In the particular construction illustrated, the flare-supporting tube 1 is sustained by brackets 2, 3 upon the side of the body 4 of 'theaerop'lane. The flare, which may be constructed as an article of manufacture, com prises a case 5 preferably of cylindrical form having a closed upper end 6 provided with means forattaching it to the head 7 of the flare-supporting tube 1, the means illustrated comprising a bolt 8 extendin through the head 6 of the case and through is e head? of the tube with a nut 9 upon the end of the bolt. Any other suitable means may, however, be provided to support the case within the tube. The other or lower end of the case is provided with a releasable closure, such as a gate 10, which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 11 carried by brackets or bosses pro- 1 jecting from the wall of the case. The free end of the closure or gate 10 is releasably held in closed position by a spring latch. 12 which may be operated by a cord or cable 13 con} nected at its lower end to an extension of the 1 spring latch 12 and at its up er end anchored 100 to an eye 14: upon the body of the plane, or any other suitable means.

The case 5 encloses a parachute 14 and a shell 15 which is connected to the parachute by a supporting cable or cord 16, means also being connected to the parachute for actuating suitable ignition mechanism to cause combustion of the pyrotechnical material after the parachute and shell have been dropped from the case. In the present invention the shell is provided with a cap carrying the igniting mechanism, and the igniting mechanism is actuated b a flexible metallic strap,

' cord or other device, which is connected at one end to the'ignition mechanism and cap and at the other end to the parachute or other suitable anchorage, and which will hereinafter be referred to as a lanyard. Of course the flare may be ignited when dropped from a mast, tower or other structure which extends sufliciently high into the air and the supporting cable for the shell and lanyard may be secured to it instead of to a parachute, within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The parachute for supporting the shell may be of any usual type comprising a circular, umbrella-shaped web 17 of flexible material, such as oiled silk, having cords 18 connected to its periphery and converging to a common ring or anchorage 19. The supporting member 16 for "the shell is connected at one end to the ring 19 and at its other end to the body of the shell, preferably to an eye 20 projecting f om the base of the shell. The wall of the shell desirably is of cylindrical form and may be made of any suitable material, but desirably is made of a fibrous material which will burn with approximately the same rapidity as the contents of the shell. A cap 21 is provided to close the open end of the shell and desirably is detachably secured to it. The preferred means for securing the cap to the shell illustrated in Fig. 6 comprise a strip of adhesive tape which is secured to the Wall of the shell and also extends over andis secured to the edge of the cap. Any other suitable means may be provided for detachably securing the cap to the shell, as by extending the wall of the shell beyond the periphery of the cap and crimping the edge of the shell over it. The ignition mechanism is carried by the cap, and means are provided preferably first to actuate the ignition mechanism to cause combustion of the pyrotechnical material within the shell and, second, to remove the cap from the shell so that the path of the flame and light projected therefrom will be unobstructed. The shell may be loaded with any. suitable pyrotechnical material, and as such materials arewell known in the art no particular description of the ingredients thereof is necessary to the disclosure of the present invention.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the cap comprises a base 22 of aluminum or other suitable material having a flat inner face with an annular rib 23 projecting.

therefrom to form a chamber adapted to enclose a quick match 24 whichrinay be wound in spiral form therein. A boss 25 projecting from the opposite face of the base is provided with a preferably cylindrical aperture therethrough forming a cartridge chamber 26 in preferred embodiment of the invention illus trated in the accompanying drawings, a ham-{ mer and trigger mechanism is provided to fire the cartridge, the trigger mechanism being operated by a pull upon the lanyard, heretofore described. In the mechanism shown, the hammer 28 is pivotally mounted upon a stud 29 extending between a pair of bosses 30 which project from the base 22 and has a head 31 provided with a sharp projection 32 in position to engage the cap of the center-fire cartridge. A spring 33 having one end engaging the base 22 of the cap is spirally coiled around the stud 29 and bears at its opposite end upon a stud 34: projecting from the side of the hammer. The spring 33 normal- 1y serves to hold the hammer in engagement with the cartridge, but is adapted to be raised against the tension of the spring and when released is caused by the spring to impinge upon the cartridge and fire the same. Any suitable means may be provided for thus actuating the hammer. In the particular construction illustrated, the hammer is provided with an extension 35 presenting a shoulder which is engaged by a trigger 36 which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 37 carried by a pair of bosses 38 projecting from the base 22 of the cap. A lanyard 39 having a branch 40, which is connected to the trigger 36 near its front end, serves, when pulled, to cause the trigger to act upon the extension 35 of the hammer and thereby raise the hammer against the action of the spring and upon further movement to slip from the shoulder of the hammer, thereby releasing the hammer so that it is impelled, by its spring, against the cartridge.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a protective device for preventing premature explosion of the cartridge during the handling of the shell in transportation, loading, etc. A convenient mechanism for accomplishing this purpose comprises means secured to the lanyard normally interposed between the cartridge and the hammer but adapted to be removed from such position when the lanyard is pulled to actuate the trigger and hammer. In the preferred construction illustrated the lanyard 39 comprises a steel strap or band which, when in normal position, extends beneath the pivotal support for the hammer and over the head of the'cartridge, being interposed between the cartridge and the pointed projection 32 of the hammer. A similar steel strap 40 is pivotally secured'at one end to. the trigger and at its other end 'is connected to the lanyard by a rivet 41 at such a distance from the end of the lanyard which overlies the cartridge that when the triggeris pulled sufliciently to release the hammer the end of the lanyard will be withdrawn from the path of the head of the hammer and the projection 32 thereof 'Will be thus permitted to en age the firing cap of the cartridge. Desira ly the firing ,mechanism is enclosed by a suitable cover.

In the particular construction illustrated, the base 22 of the cap is provided with a circular rib 42 surrounding the ignition mechanism, and a dome-shaped cover 43 fits upon the outer shoulder of the rib 42. The cover is provided with indentations, the bases 44 of which over-lie the rib 42 and preferably also the rib 23 upon the opposite side of the base 22. Screws 45 extending through the bases 44 of the indentations and seated in the body 22 of the cover serve to secure the cover firmly upon the cap. The cover 43 is provifled with a suitable aperture 46 through w ich the lanyard 39 extends. Y

In the operation of the device,,a strong,

quick pull upon the lanyard 39 will act through the strap 40 to swing the trigger 36 about its pivot 37, thereby causing the free end of the trigger to engage the shoulder 35 upon the hammer and raise the hammer against the action of the spring 33 until the end of the trigger passes from engagement with said shoulder, whereupon the spring will drive the hammer against the cartridge, firing the same. As the lanyard is pulled the extension thereof which overlies the cartridge will ibe Withdrawn and the point 32 of the hammer thereby enabled to strike the cap or hiead of the cartridge. As the lanyard is fixedly secured to the trigger, a pull upon the lanyard will readily break the detachable connection between the cap and the cartridge, so that as soon as the pyrotechnical material in t e shell is ignited the cap. will be removed and the path of the. flame and light from the pyrotechnical material will be unobstructed. The lanyard also will serve to support the cap, 50 that it can be recovered and used over and over.

When the device is employed for a landing flare; as illustrated herein, the lanyard 39 is made shorter than the combined length of the shell 15 and its supporting cable 16 so that when the parachute expands as it is dropped, the relatively more. rapid movement of the dropping shell will cause an abrupt jerk hpon the cap, thereby actuating the ign1t ing-mechanism and detaching the cap from the Shell. 111' such case the cap will remain 65, connected to the parachute and likewise can be recovered when the parachute has descended to the earth.

The cap and ignition device, or cartridgefirmg mechanism, preferably are of rugged construction, and the cover which encloses the ignition deviceserves to protect it from m ury, so that the cap may be used repeatedly. 1

It will 'be'readily ticular embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is of an illustrative characterand that various modifications may be made in form, construction and arrangement of parts within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is: p

1. An aerial flare comprising a shell con-. taming pyrotechnical material and having a releasable cap, an igniting device carried by said cap, and means for actuating said igniting device and operable thereafter to remove and support said cap.

2; An aerial flare comprising a shell containing pyrotechnical material and having a releasable cap, an igniting device carried by said cap, a parachute, supporting means connecting said parachute to said shell, and means permanently connecting saidparachute both to said cap and to said igniting device operable by the more rapid movement of the shell than that of the parachute when first dropping to actuate said igniting device and then to release said cap and support the same during the descent of said parachute.

3. An aerial flare comprising a shell conunderstood that the par Sli taining pyrotechnical material and having .a

releasable cap, an igniting device carried by said cap, a parachute, a flexible supporting means permanently connecting said parachute to the body of said shell, and a flexible supporting means of relatively shorter length than the combined length of said shell-supand support the same during the descent of said parachute;

4. An aeria ing from a height, comprising a shell con taining pyrotechnical material, a cap on' one end of said shell having a cartridge chamber, a spring actuated hammer in position to engage a cartridge therein, and means operable during the descent of said shell to raise and release said hammer to discharge the cartridge and thereby to ignite said pyrotechnical material. I

5. An aerial flare operable when descendin from' a heightcomprising a shell con tainin pyrotechnical material, a cap'on one end- 0 said shell containing a quick match 1 flare operable when descendhaving a cartridge chamber, a spring actuated hammer positioned to engage a cartridge therein, and means operable during the de'- scent of said shell to raise said hammer against the tension of its spring and thereafter to release said hammer to discharge the cartridge and thereby ignite said quick match and through it the pyrotechnical material.

6. An aerial flare operable when descending from a height comprising a shell containing pyrotechnical material, a cap respectively connected to one end of said shell having a cartridge chamber'therethrough, a rib upon the inner face of said cap enclosing a quick match engaging said pyrotechnical material, a spring actuated hammer positioned to engage the cartridge in said cartridge chamber, and means operable during the descent of said shell to raise said hammer against the tension of its spring and tore lease said hammer to discharge the" cartridge and operable thereafter to release and reend of said shell having a cartridge chamber therethrough,,a spring-actuated hammer p0- sitioned to engage a cartridge in said chamber, and means for actuating the said hammer and provided with means for preventing firing of said cartridge except when saidharnmer-actuating means is operated to raise said hammer against the tension of its spring.

9. An aerial flare comprising a shell containing pyrotechnical material, a cap on one end of said shell having a cartridge chamber therethrough, a spring-actuated hammer positioned to engage a cartridge in said chamber, and means for actuating the said hammer, including means normally interposed be tween said hammer and said cartridge acting normally to prevent the firing of said cartridge, but removable from such position by said hammer-actuating means when the latter is operated to raise said hammer against the tension of its spring and release the same to explode the cartridge.

10. An aerial flare comprising a shell containing pyrotechnical material, a cap on the end of the shell having a cartridge chamber, a spring-actuated hammer normally positioned to engage the cartridge in said chamber, but without operating tension upon its actuating spring, a trigger having means releasably engaging said hammer and a lanyard connected to said trigger operable when .pulled to cause said trigger to raise the hammer against the tension of its spring and thereafter to release said hammer, whereby the expansion of the hammer spring will cause the hammer to strike and fire the cartridge. I

11. An aerial flare comprising a shell containing pyrotechnical material, a cap on the end of the shell having a cartridge chamber, a

spring-actuated hammer positioned to engage the cartridge in said chamber, a trigger having means releasably engaging said hammer and a lanyard connected to said trigger having a branch normally interposed'between the hammer and the cartridge acting to prevent premature firing of the cartridge, but removable from such position upon pulling said lanyard to actuate the trigger.

taining pyrotechnical material, a cap on said shell, an igniting mechanism mounted on said cap, and means respectively connecting said parachute to the body of said shell and to said cap operable by the more rapid movement of the shell than that of the parachute when dropping to actuate said igniting mechanism and then to detach said cap.

13. An aerial flare comprising a case having means by which the same may be supported in substantially vertical position and having at its lower end a releasable closure retaining therein a parachute and a shell containing pyrotechnical material, a cap on said shell having a cartridge chamber, a springactuated hammer positioned to engage a cartridge in said chamber, a trigger releasably engaging said hammer, a lanyard connected to said trigger and said parachute,and means connecting the body of said shell to said parachutaaifi'greater effective length than said lan yard-'Wvhereby the lanyard will be pulled to actuate the trigger first to raise and then to release said hammer and thereafter to detach the cap by the more rapid movement of the shell than that of the parachute when dropping.

14. A cap for an aerial flare having upon one side a chamber to receive a quick match and provided with a cartridge chamber, a spring-actuated hammer pivotally mounted on the other side of said cap with its spring extended to inoperative position, and means for actuating said hammer operable first to raise the hammer against the tension of its spring and thereafter to release said hammer, to fire said cartridge.

15. A cap for an aerial flare having upon one side ,a chamber to receive a quick match spring actuated hammer pivotally mounted on the other side of said cap, a trigger pivotally mounted on said cap releasably engaging said hammer, and a lanyard connected with said trigger.

16. A cap for an aerial flare having upon one side a chamber to receive a quick match and provided with a cartridge chamber, a

spring-actuated hammer pivotally mounted on the other side of said cap, a trigger pivotally mounted on said cap releasably engaging said hammer, a metallic lanyard connected with said trigger having an extension normally interposed between the cartridge and the hammer, and a dome-shaped cover enclosing said hammer and trigger provided with an aperture for said lanyard.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to thisspecification.

GEORGE J. J. CLARK. ERNEST B. JONES.

GEORGE J. J. CLARK ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the p inted 'specification'of the I i f t d W s: Page 3, line 98,?claimi v --1rs roppmg read "dropp'in'gdirst Patent should be read with these corrections therein above nurnbered patentrequiring correction as folio 2, vand lme 113,. claim 3, for the words and that the said Letters.

that the same may conform to the rec p 0rd of the case th t v slgned and sealedthisl3th day r may, A. n. 9 r

M. J. Moore,

(st-1 a a Actmg'Commissioner of Patents Granted April 22, 1930; to 

